William enlisted on 18th March 1911. He was 22 years and 8 months old; was an Indoor Servant by trade; and was living in Cashel, county Tipperary at the time. He joined at Aldershot on 20th March and did his training there. After completing his service, on 17th March 1914, he was transferred to Army Reserve. When war broke out, William was re-called for service. He was mobilized on 6th August 1914, and was posted to Cork to serve with the 16th Field Ambulance. He entered the war in France on 9th September 1914, and appears to have remained with this unit throughout the war. On 12th March 1919, he was discharged on re-enlisting - in the field, and his service number changed to 200689. He then returned to the UK (Aldershot), and on 6th September was posted to serve in Mesopotamia. He embarked at Tilbury on the 8th, then disembarked at Basra on the 16th and was attached for duty by the officer commanding No 32 British General Hospital at Amarah on 28th October - he appears to have joined on 1st November with the 21st Stationary Hospital. He was admitted into hospital on 10th November 1919 and was discharged on the 22nd. The Director of Medical Services at General Headquarters, Bagdad reported that William had been promoted to acting Corporal (paid) from 17th January 1920. His Army Service number changed to 7250802. On 30th November 1920, he was admitted into hospital suffering with Eczema, and was discharged 29th December. He left Amarah on 6th January 1922 for duty at South Basra District. He appears to have served in a Military Hospital there. On 30th March 1922, his rank reverted back to a Private. On 15th January 1923, he was granted extended service to 12 years with the colours. On 9th June 1925, he was appointed under Special Corps and was promoted to Corporal. William was finally discharged from the army on 9th December 1925, being physically unfit for any form of military service due to “Mitral Stenosis”, a valvular heart disease. [Information taken from William’s service record, kindly provided by his family]